Display device



Aug. 25, 1953 E. E. BROZ 2,649,970

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 10; 1948 INVEN TOR.

W5 64,? BY

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Ethel E. Broz, Euclid, Ohio Application September 10, 1948, Serial No. 48,709

1 Claim. '1

This invention relates to means for supporting and displaying ornamental objects such as flowers, art objects and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a display device which, while affording adequate physical support for the object displayed, offers a minimum obstruction of view of the said object.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device which offers a minimum interference with or interruption of the decorative treatment of the walls of the room or space in which the device is placed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display device having novel shadow effects.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide a display device which itself is pleasing in form and appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide parent material and having a horizontal bottom section capable of supportin objects to be displayed. The structure preferably has its front edge portions flared outwardly on curved lines to present a pleasing appearance and draw the gaze of the beholder toward the object on display.

Also, to facilitate and minimize the cost of fabrication, as well as provide a distinctive appearance, the outwardly fiared portions of the structure may be shaped to leave outwardly expanding notches or openings at the corners of the structure. The structure can be supported in a variety of ways but preferably the structure is provided at its top side with openings to receive suspension means.

For further disclosure and explanation of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing showing illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of the display device.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing parts of a display device embodying the invention but constructed somewhat difierently than the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another modified form of construction which may be employed in carrying out the invention.

Referring in detail to the constructions shown and first to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the device consists of a rectangular structure open at the back and front and comprising parallel top and bottom sides or sections l and 2, respectively, and vertical sides or sections 3 and 4. Each of these four sections is formed from a fiat strip of transparent material, preferably one of the plastics (such, for example, as the methyl methacrylate resin known to the trade as Lucite) which are substantially transparent, strong and comparatively light in weight. The four sections I, 2, 3 and 4 are shaped by bending flat strips on longitudinal lines to provide rear flat or plane portions la, 2a, 3a and 4a, respectively, and outwardly flared front portions lb, 217, 3b and 411, respectively. Also the four sections have their ends formed so that the ends of adjacent plane portions nicely fit each other to permit their fusion or welding together to effect strong corner joints that are practically invisible and provide an integral structure, while the adjacent ends of the flared portions terminate short of each other to form outwardly widening openings or notches 5, 5 at the four corners of the structure. This open or notched corner construction has the double advantage that it gives the frame structure a distinctive flower or petal-like appearance and obviates the considerable labor of nicely fitting the edges of the curving flared portions to secure joints satisfactory in appearance.

A display structure such as that described can be supported or mounted in various ways but a common manner of support contemplated is to hang the structure against a wall. For that purpose the structure is fitted at its top corners with a pair of loops 6, 6 which are preferably made of the same plastic material as the main parts of the device by bending strips of the material to the form shown and fusing or welding them to the top and side walls of the structure. Thus equipped the structure can readily be mounted on a wall by means of two nails or screws. When thus mounted or hung the flat portion 2a of the bottom section 2 affords a horizontal support for objects to be displayed.

In Fig. l the display device is shown against the background of a section of wall designated by the reference character A and the character B designates a bouquet of flowers supported in a typical manner by the bottom section of the display device.

By making the display device of transparent material several desirable ends are attained. First, the structure conveys an impression of lightness and openness appropriate in the display of flowers or art objects. Second, effective openness is attained in the sense that the object or objects on display are visible from all angles, through the walls of the device as well as directly from the front. Third, while the Walls of the device are substantially transparent they do not transmit light completely and therefore cast slight shadows, with a pleasing effect.

The formation of the display device open at the back as well as at the front minimizes its weight so that a structure of relatively large dimensions can be used without attaining impractical weight; and in addition, from the decorative standpoint, the object displayed is shown effectively against the continuous wall background. Also, the continuity of background adds to the effect of openness secured by the use of transparent material.

The open or notched corner construction has an advantage in addition to that already mentioned in that it makes possible the fabrication of the device from a single strip of material and with a single corner joint. Such a construction is shown in Fig. where the entire lower part of the device and a part of its top section is broken away. Here the entire frame structure is formed of one integral part I by starting with a flat strip of the plastic material of a length equal to the combined lengths of the four sides or sections of the finished structure, cutting away or notching portions of the part of the strip to be curved or flared, namely, at the two ends of the strip and at three intermediate points correspondin to corners of the finished structure, or by simply slitting the part of the strip to be curved outward at the three intermediate points. The straight strip is then bent on longitudinal lines to effect the flared conformation, whereupon the fiat portion of the strip is bent at right angles adjacent the three intermediate notches, as indicated at 8, to form integral corner structures. This brings the two ends of the strip together so that they can be fused or welded together to form the single joint 9.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 6,

the display structure is made of transparent material and formed in four parts with a joint at each corner but without corner openings in the flared front portion of the structure. One of the lower corners of the structure is shown in Fig. 6 and it will be observed that the bottom section [2 and upright section l3 have both their flat portions and thin flared portions In and I3a,

respectively, in full engagement at the corner joint. Such corner joints cost more to fabricate than those with the corner openings 5 shown in Fig. 1 but the Fig. 6 construction has the advantage of better conforming to some of the older conventional styles of furniture and architecture.

While the improved display device is adapted to be suspended against an upright Wall, it obviously can be suspended, as by wires or cords, apart from an upright wall, such method of suspension being particularly suitable for display of articles of merchandise in store windows.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to either of the specific constructions illustrated but that it includes-equivalent structures within the bounds of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A display device consisting of a rectangular frame open at the back and front and with its four sides formed of a single integral strip of substantially transparent plastic material of uniform thickness and having a fiat rear portion disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the rear edges of the frame and a front portion curving forwardly and outwardly from the rear portion, the curved portion being interrupted at the four corners of the frame to form outwardly widening openings and the flat portion of one side of the frame, when horizontally disposed at the bottom of the frame, serving as a shelf for supporting objects to be displayed.

ETI-IEL E. BROZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 144,922 Heilbroner June 4, 1946 D. 147,767 Suman Oct. 28, 1947 D. 153,401 Swibold Apr. 12, 1949 454,162v Baum June 16, 1891 697,872 Oldenbusch Apr. 15, 1902 1,490,508 Crosswhite Apr. 15, 1924 2,120,456 Barnes June 14, 1938 2,438,505 Hunt Mar. 30, 1948 

